Footbridges Save Lives in a Walking World - Bridging the Gap Africa

In response to a need for rural infrastructure, Bridging the Gap Africa is a not for profit organization that is dedicated to saving lives and improving the quality of life for rural African families and communities by constructing pedestrian footbridges. In Kenya and Tanzania, over 50 bridges have been constructed over rivers and ravines, most of which are isolated mountainous sites that are prone to drought and flash flooding. Bridging the Gap Africa has used many technical sources to develop both suspension and suspended type sustainable footbridge designs to meet this purpose. This paper discusses the need for simple, economical pedestrian bridges in developing communities. The paper presents the suspended and suspension bridge designs used by Bridging the Gap Africa which are sustainably joining rural communities and increasing the quality of life in the walking world.